Carton with interlocking bottom



Dec. 28, 1943.

A. P. LAPARA 2,337,755

CARTON WITH INTERLOCKING BOTTOM Filed June 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Dec. 28, 1943 CARTON WITH INTERLOCKING BOTTOJW Anthony P.Lapara, New Orleans, La., assignor to Great Southern Box Company, 1110.,Southport, La, a corporation of Louisiana Application June 10, 1942,Serial No. 446,494

2 Claims.

This invention relates to cartons assembled from a foldable blank ofsheet material, of the type in which the bottom comprises a plurality ofthicknesses of the sheet material formed as infolded integral extensionsfrom the sides of the carton.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a carton of the classdescribed, having an interlocking bottom.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel interlocking meansfor the bottom panel.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of the followingspecification, and throughout the several figures of which the samecharacters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carton embodying the principles ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan View of the lid of the carton in blank form;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the carton in blank form.

Referring now in detail to the several figures and first adverting tothe blank shown in Figure 6, the carton comprises the side panels I and2 and the bottom panels 5 and 6, the latter being preferably integralextensions of side panels and being demarked therefrom by the fold lines1.

The terminal side panel on one side is formed with the attaching flap 8so that when the side panels are folded along the lateral lines of fold9 into tubular form, the flap 8 may be stapled or otherwise secured tothe free edge In of the opposite terminal panel. The upper ends of theside panels I and 2 are formed with a fold line II parallel to the topedge of the blank and a short distance away from said upper edgedelineating a relatively narrow marginal portion I4, which may be foldeddown on the outside of the carton in the manner shown at l2 in Figure 2,increasing the rigidity and strength of the upper end of the carton, andproviding means by which a lid, presently to be described, may beinterlocked with respect to the carton.

A lateral extension flap I3 slips beneath the outfolded marginal portionHi to Which it may be secured by stapling or in any other suitablemanner.

In the assembled carton the bottom panels 5 and 6 are folded inwardlywith respect to the sides of the carton to form a bottom of plural plythickness. Since it is the object of the invention to have the plies ofthe bottom interlock, the alternate bottom panels 5 which will foldtogether from opposite sides are provided with registrable slots [5 atan intermediate portion and parallel to the fold line I in the blank ofFigure 6. The other alternate bottom panels 6 are cut so as to formtongues l5 of such width as to pass through the slots I5, and of alength slightly greater than the distance of the slots 35 from the lineof fold 7, when the tongues it are inserted in said slots and foldedover toward the sides of the carton from which the tongue bearing bottompanels 6 emanate. At their ends the tongues l6 are provided with theextensions ll of reduced Width which are adapted to snap into the slotsI8 formed in the side panels l adjacent the bottom of the carton. Insetting up the carton the side panels are folded along the lines of fold9, and the flap 8 stapled to the edge II), to form a tubular structure.The bottom slot bearing panels 5 are then folded inwardly toward eachother so that the slots [5 congruently register. The bottom panels 6 arethen each folded inwardly upon the bottom and the tongue portions I 6folded along their base lines I9 and slipped through the slot l5.

Each of the tongues which now extends upwardly on the interior of thecarton isvfolded outwardly upon itself until the extensions I! come intofrictional contact with the sides of the carton. These may be forceddown and finally snap into the slots to, thereby locking the bottom ofthe carton firmly together and against collapse. Referring to Figure 5,this shows a blank for the lid of this carton and comprises a top panel20 having the side extensions 2! and 22 adapted to be folded downwardlyalong the lines of fold 23 to form the flanges of the lid. Theextensions 2| have end flaps 24 adapted to be slipped beneath theextensions 22 when the latter are in folded condition, and to be stapledthereto, holding the flanges of the lid in position. The extensions 22are provided with fiaps 25 foldable along the lines of fold 26 so as toextend up behind the extensions 22 in the folded lid. In locking the lidto the carton, the upwardly extending flap on one side of the lid ispushed up beneath the flange I2 at the top of the carton, on one side;then the cover is pushed into place all around, and the opposite flap 25is forced upward beneath the adjacent flange [2' of the carton, therebylocking the lid in place.

While I have in the above disclosure described what I believe to be apreferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it willbeunderstood to those skilled in the art that the specific details ofconstruction as shown and described are by way of example and not to beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined in theappended claims.

What I claim is: I

1. Carton assembled from a foldable blank of sheet material comprisingside panels and bottom panels the latter being extensions from the lowerends of said side panels, infolded in substantial surface contact toform a plural ply bottom, the inner bottom panels being formed withregistering slots intermediate and perpendicular to the bases andopposite free edges of said panels, the outerbottom panels being formedwith tongues extending through said slots, folded within said cartontoward the bases of the respective panels from which said tonguesemanate, the side panels tom, the inner bottom panels being formed Withregistering slots intermediate and perpendicular to the bases andopposite free edges of said panels, the outer bottom panels being formedwith tongues extending through said slots and folded within said casingtoward the bases of the respective panels from which they emanate, saidtongues being of such length as to frictionally press the adjacent sidesof said carton, in the course of its folding movement, said sides beingprovided with slots adjacent the bottom of said carton in the path ofthe folding movement of said tongues, into which the ends of saidtongues spring for interlocking the panels of the bottom of said carton.

. ANTHONY P. LAPARA.

